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  Hyundai Motor's Ioniq 9 outperforms BMW iX, Volvo EX90 in German magazine's SUV review SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor’s flagship electric SUV, the Ioniq 9, has taken the top spot in a major German comparison of electric SUVs, outperforming competing models from BMW, Volvo and Polestar, the company said Friday. German automotive magazine Auto Zeitung evaluated the Ioniq 9 against the BMW iX, Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3, reviewing categories including body design, driving convenience, powertrain and dynamic performance. The publication highlighted t December 12, 2025
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  Shinsegae chairman flies to US to attend dinner hosted by VP Vance SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin departed for the United States on Friday to attend a Christmas dinner hosted by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at the vice president’s residence in Washington D.C. The event, scheduled for Friday evening, local time, is expected to draw prominent figures from U.S. political and business circles, as well as members of the Rockbridge Network, an American public policy and investment organization founded by Va December 12, 2025
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  Seoul Metro Union No. 1 reaches agreement, strike averted SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Seoul Metro Union No. 1 and management of Seoul Transportation Corporation, which operates Seoul Subway Lines 1-8, reached a wage and collective bargaining agreement on Friday just before a general strike. This led to the cancellation of the union's planned general strike for that day. The Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) also reached a settlement with the Korean Railway Workers' Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), lea December 12, 2025
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  KOSPI tops 4,150 as Dow hits record high SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Asian stocks in early Friday session tracked the mixed overnight performance in the United States, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit another record high even as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq slipped. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI rose 1.1 percent to 4,154.47, while the KOSDAQ edged up 0.2 percent to 936.76 as of 9:49 a.m. Institutional investors led the market with 302 billion won ($205 million) in net purchases. Foreign investors sold 64.8 bil December 12, 2025
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  Hotel Shilla president's son admitted to Seoul National University SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Hotel Shilla president Lee Boo-jin's eldest son has been accepted to Seoul National University. According to a list released by the prestigious university on Friday, his name, identified by his last name Im, appeared among the successful early-admission applicants to the university's Department of Economics for next year's academic year. Those admitted must register by next week. If he enrolls, he will follow in the footsteps of his uncle December 12, 2025
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  PHOTOS: 400 bowls of warmth SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Volunteers tied to the Korean Red Cross held a charity event on Dec. 11 in Daegu, serving 400 servings of patjuk (red bean porridge) to local elderly residents. The event precedes the traditional Korean observance of Dongji, marking the year's longest night, which falls on Dec. 22 this year. A widespread custom in Korea dictates the consumption of patjuk around this date, rooted in the ancient belief that the red color of the beans effectively wards December 12, 2025
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  OPINION: Won discount reflects structural weaknesses The trauma of the 1997 financial crisis still casts a long shadow over South Korea. A rising dollar-won exchange rate evokes memories of a time when the rate surged to nearly 2,000 won per dollar and the foundations of the economy shook. Today’s rate—hovering around 1,470 won—is the highest since the 2009 global financial crisis, and its persistent climb has stirred fresh unease. Research by the Hyundai Research Institute shows that South Korea’s equilibrium excha December 12, 2025
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  OPINION: Why Beijing cannot tolerate Tokyo's remark related to Taiwan Strait Recent comments by Japanese leaders linking a Taiwan Strait contingency to Japan’s “survival crisis” have triggered a strong response from China. During recent conversations, many South Korean acquaintances asked why Beijing reacted so forcefully. China considers a firm response not only necessary, but also legitimate — and I hope this commentary clarifies Beijing’s position for Korean readers. First, Japan is interfering in China’s internal a December 12, 2025
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  Kakao Healthcare steps up digital healthcare push with distribution deal with US firm SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Kakao Healthcare said Friday it has signed an exclusive supply agreement with Dexcom, giving the South Korean digital health platform sole distribution rights for Dexcom's continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) products in South Korea. Dexcom is a U.S.-based medical technology company specializing in CGM systems for people with diabetes. Under the deal, the two companies will expand real-time blood glucose management services using Dexcom’s C December 12, 2025
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  South Korean crypto fraudster sentenced to 15 years in prison SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Crypto fraudster Kwon Do-hyeong, also known as Do Kwon, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on fraud charges by a U.S. federal court in New York on Thursday. The so-called "Cryptocrash King" was behind the spectacular collapse of the TerraUSD and Luna cyber that wiped out more than US$40 billion in losses to investors in the U.S. and around the world. "This was a fraud on an epic, generational scale. In the history of federal prosecutions December 12, 2025